Nude portraits and hot tubs turn off house-hunters

Woodchip wallpaper, mirrored ceilings and nude portraits have been revealed as the top decorative turn-offs for house-hunters.
Hot tubs are popular, but are major turn-offs for many house buyers. Picture: ContributedHot tubs are popular, but are major turn-offs for many house buyers. Picture: Contributed
Hot tubs are popular, but are major turn-offs for many house buyers. Picture: Contributed

Despite their popularity with many people, hot tubs were also among the top ten list of features that would put a would-be buyer off, according to research from NeedaProperty.com.

An avocado bathroom suite, a collection of stuffed, dead animals and have-a-go 1980s paint effects such as rag-rolling and stencilling were also among the features that house-hunters would be most put-out to find.

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Sellers looking to attract a buyer may want to consider installing granite kitchen surfaces, a wooden floor, a wood burning stove, a roll-top bath or an American-style fridge, as these were listed as being among the biggest turn-ons in the survey of 2,000 prospective home-buyers conducted last month.

Two-thirds said they would offer a lower asking price if a property was crammed with features that the buyer considered to be in bad taste, while around a third would be put off making an offer altogether.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent of those surveyed would be prepared to pay over the asking price if a house had lots of must-have features.

The research also found that a red front door was the most attractive colour, with 13 per cent of people saying this, while a pink front door was chosen as the biggest turn-off, with 26 per cent of votes.

A posh car in the driveway was seen as a big plus by 15 per cent of people.

There were, however, differences between the sexes over what features were considered desirable.

Nearly a quarter of men said a double garage would be a major bonus, compared with just 14 per cent of women.

More than one in five women would be impressed by a walk-in wardrobe – a feature that a mere one in ten men found desirable.

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Three-fifths of people said they judged others by their taste in home decoration.

Nearly one in five said that animal prints and soft silk furnishings would make them think that the occupants had a strong sexual appetite, while nearly half said that nude portraits would suggest the home-owners were sexually liberated.

Seven out of 10 people also admitted being “baffled by bidets”, saying that finding one in a home would leave them confused over how to use it.

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